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The Platinum Card from American Express Exclusively for Charles Schwab vs U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card

Both are travel travel cards. The The Platinum Card from American Express Exclusively for Charles Schwab comes from American Express at $695/yr; the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card from U.S. Bank at $0/yr. Below: side-by-side specs, an opinionated verdict, and the FAQs people actually ask before applying.

Bottom line

For most people the The Platinum Card from American Express Exclusively for Charles Schwab is the stronger pick today, the sign-up bonus is meaningfully larger ($1,440 more in estimated value) than the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card's. Get the The Platinum Card from American Express Exclusively for Charles Schwab first; revisit the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card after you've earned that bonus.

FeatureThe Platinum Card from American Express Exclusively for Charles SchwabU.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card
Annual fee$695$0
Sign-up bonusUp to 80,000 Membership Rewards points20,000 bonus points
Bonus value (est.)$1,440-
Min spend to unlock bonus$8,000 in 6 mo$1,000 in ? mo
IssuerAmerican ExpressU.S. Bank
Card categorytraveltravel
Best earning category (Flights_direct_or_amextravel)5x1x
Transfer partnersamex-mrNone
Headline benefits
  • Invest with Rewards 1.1c/pt into Schwab
  • Centurion + Priority Pass + Delta Sky Club
  • 5X flights, 5X prepaid hotels
  • $1,500+ in annual credits
    Read the full review
    The Platinum Card from American Express Exclusively for Charles Schwab
    $695/yr · Up to 80,000 Membership Rewards points
    Read the full review
    U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card
    $0/yr · 20,000 bonus points

    Editorial take: The Platinum Card from American Express Exclusively for Charles Schwab

    The premium Platinum for Schwab brokerage customers. Same lounge access, FHR, and credit suite as the Personal Platinum, but the killer feature is Invest with Rewards at 1.1 cents per point cash-into-brokerage — the highest fixed-value MR redemption in the program. Best for cardholders who don't max out airline transfer partners.

    Editorial take: U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card

    Common questions

    Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, The Platinum Card from American Express Exclusively for Charles Schwab or U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card?
    The The Platinum Card from American Express Exclusively for Charles Schwab has a public bonus (Up to 80,000 Membership Rewards points, worth roughly $1,440), while the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card doesn't advertise one right now.
    Is the The Platinum Card from American Express Exclusively for Charles Schwab's $695 annual fee worth it compared to the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card?
    Premium cards like the The Platinum Card from American Express Exclusively for Charles Schwab ($695/yr) earn their fee through credits, travel, dining, lounge access, statement reimbursements. If you'd actively use $695+ of those credits, the math works. The U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card at $0/yr trades some perks for a lower commitment.
    Can I have both the The Platinum Card from American Express Exclusively for Charles Schwab and U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card?
    Yes, since they're from different issuers (American Express and U.S. Bank) the application rules don't conflict. Many points enthusiasts hold both, they pair well when one earns flexible bank points and the other earns a different currency.
    Should I get the The Platinum Card from American Express Exclusively for Charles Schwab or the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card first?
    Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. The Platinum Card from American Express Exclusively for Charles Schwab: $8,000 spend in 6 months. U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card: $1,000 in ? months. Pick the easier minimum spend if you're new to points; pick the larger bonus if you have planned big purchases coming up.

    Card details on this page reflect the most recent data we've verified against the issuer's own site. Sign-up bonuses and fees can change at any time, confirm the current offer on the issuer's page before applying.